Kirsten Hillman, who has served as Canada’s ambassador to the United States for a significant period, will be stepping down from her role in the upcoming year. This transition comes at a pivotal time, amidst strained trade relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, Hillman shared her decision via a social media update, indicating her intention to “remain available” to Canada’s negotiation team as they face the challenging times ahead.
“It has been the utmost privilege of my professional career to have represented Canada and Canadians during this crucial time in Canada-U.S. relations,” she stated.
She added, “While there will never be a perfect moment to depart, this is an appropriate time to establish a team that will guide the review of the [Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement] to its completion.”
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Initially serving as acting ambassador, Hillman officially took on the role in 2020, becoming the first woman to hold this prominent position.
The lawyer played a key role in aiding the previous Liberal government in renegotiating the North American trade agreement, now referred to as CUSMA in Canada. This agreement is set to enter its mandatory review phase next year.
Additionally, she was the chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which transformed into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
In an interview with CBC’s The National, Hillman revealed she informed Prime Minister Mark Carney in the spring about her plans to resign in 2026. She reiterated that the approaching CUSMA negotiations influenced her decision to leave.
“It’s the right moment to assemble a team that will be present to ensure those discussions are completed. It felt like a natural transition,” Hillman told host Adrienne Arsenault.
“I would never make a decision I believed was detrimental to Canada, and I feel that the timing of my departure facilitates a transition to a team capable of finalizing these negotiations.”
Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman tells The National’s Adrienne Arsenault about her decision to leave her U.S. post now, with trade negotiations at a standstill.
In her announcement, Hillman highlighted her involvement in securing the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor as a significant achievement. The two Canadians were detained by China’s communist government for 1,019 days in 2018, as a part of a broader international legal dispute related to a Huawei executive.
“In a relationship as intricate and profound as ours, significant and pressing matters arise almost daily. However, none were more personal to me than the countless hours I spent collaborating with U.S. and Chinese counterparts to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,” Hillman noted.
Businessman Mark Wiseman being considered: sources
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed gratitude to Hillman for her intelligence and diplomatic skills.
“As one of the longest-serving ambassadors to the United States in our history, her extensive and positive engagement with all branches of the U.S. government, as well as with leaders throughout America and Canada, has produced vital outcomes for Canadians,” he remarked in a statement.
During a brief conversation with reporters on Wednesday morning, Carney mentioned that the ambassador’s decision comes at a “window” before negotiations intensify.
“We have concluded our consultations regarding CUSMA, while the Americans are just beginning. The review process will gain momentum in the new year,” he stated.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the announcement that Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., will leave her post in the new year. Carney thanked Hillman for her work, saying she is ‘an exceptional public servant.’
The prime minister did not disclose any specific candidates for Hillman’s successor.
However, sources informed Radio-Canada that Mark Wiseman is among those being considered for the role, although the selection process has not yet reached its conclusion. Bloomberg was the first outlet to report Wiseman’s candidacy.
Wiseman is a member of Carney’s advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations and previously served as the chief executive of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, pumps his fist as he is greeted by Kirsten Hillman, Canadian ambassador to the United States, right, as he arrives for the G7 summit in Alberta in June. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to Hillman as “a true patriot.”
“Her expertise, resilience, and dedication to her country have been evident from the very start,” he expressed. “Kirsten, my dear friend, I thank you for your exceptional service.”
Trade discussions with the U.S. have largely stalled. Trump halted negotiations in October, frustrated by anti-tariff advertisements produced by the Ontario province during the World Series, which referenced former President Ronald Reagan’s views on tariffs.
When asked over the weekend whether he would resume trade negotiations with Canada, the president responded, “we’ll see.”
